Official Languages committee  Yes, it is basic teaching.

Official Languages committee  Yes, it must not be done to the detriment of other things. Immersion programs must not be increased to the detriment of core language schools.

Official Languages committee  Yes.

Official Languages committee  We would like to see two things. First, a national second language education policy.

Official Languages committee  Through the implementation of the framework such as—

Official Languages committee  The government should provide money to coordinate the implementation of a common frame of reference for languages. That is very specific.

Official Languages committee  We are ready to do that. We only need the money to do it.

Official Languages committee  First of all, I think that is a promising idea, but we would have to think about it a bit. The first thing that comes to mind is that this is an optional program. I do not know whether the idea that English as a second language and French as a second language are important values is strong enough to take root.

Official Languages committee  Yes. I do not have the exact figures, but I can say that there are four million students in the majority schools. I am not sure about Quebec. Two million anglophone students are currently taking core French, intensive French or other French courses in the majority schools. There are one million students in Quebec and approximately 300,000 immersion students.

Official Languages committee  Yes, that is it.

Official Languages committee  No. That is why we are talking about a—

Official Languages committee  Precisely. That is somewhat what I am saying in the recommendations. We need an awareness campaign. A lot of people talk about that. There are myths that must be debunked. For example, there is the myth that, if you learn a second language, you will lose your first. That is completely false.

Official Languages committee  I believe the federal government could do a number of things. The first is to promote a common framework. CASLT promotes a common framework for teachers. At the political level, however, the idea would be to have a national policy on targets, to adopt the same language concerning language skills, the same tools based on the same research and on the same concepts, which would make it possible to speak a common language with regard to teacher training and language evaluation.

Official Languages committee  Thank you. Mr. Chair and committee members, thank you very much for your invitation. The President and Vice-President of the Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers, or CASLT, cannot be here today and send their regrets. CASLT is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote excellence in second-language instruction in Canada.